Bicycle-saddle.



No. 636,3]2. I .v F. c. AVERYz BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1898.)

Patented New 7, I899.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES //v VEN 70/? NITED STATES PATENT rrio.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,312, dated November '7, 1899. Application filed March 15, 1898. Serial No. 673,988. (No modelJ To add whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FREDERICK (J. AVERY, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycle-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that form of bicyole-saddle which has a comparatively rigid seat portion to sustain the weight of the rider and an elastic pommel part.

The object of the invention is to providea firm and substantial spring with supports to limit the action of the pommel in its upwardand-downward motion, also to locate the height of the pommel when at rest or in its normal position, and also to adjust the tension on the pommel-spring to suit the requirements of the rider.

Figure 1 is a side view of the spring and supports in place. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a modification. Fig. 4 shows in detail the Hat side of the spring B in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a similar View of the adjustable leaf-spring O in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows the stirrup D in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows in side view another modification with a coil-spring and the stirrup D.

S is the seat, which has an anchorage-plate s secured by bolt b to saddle-support T, forming a rigid middle support for the saddle. A is an arm to limit the downward action of the pommel, which arm may or may not be a for-ward extension of the main saddle-support T. This support is fastened also in the rear to some suitable part of the rigid portion of the saddle,as by eyes I) and bolts b This arm A also prevents the upward movement of the pommel with the aid of the loop D, as shown.

B is the pommel-spring, which is fastened by bolt 6 to the middle portion of the saddle to give it sufficient action, or it may be constructed as a helical spring B and fastened on the arm A, as shown in Fig. 7.

C is a slotted leaf-spring which can slide backward or forward by loosening its retaining-bolt b. This will give the spring B a greater or less tension, making it more or less yielding, as the case may require.

D is a .stop to limit the upward action of the pommel with the aid of the arm A. This stop I) in Figs. 3, 6, and 7 is shown to be a plain loop or stirrup, which can be made of most any kind 'of material whichhas the required strength. In Figs. 1 and 2 this stop D is shown to be a plain leather strap with a buckle. If this buckle is drawn up, it will draw the pommel down, and if it is let out it will allow the spring B to force the pommel upward. This adjustment is a great advantage, as it permits the rider to have a high or low pommel, at his option. It is evident that if this pommel is not limited in its downward motion any extreme weight or pressure that may accidentally force it to its limit maybreak or injure thespringB, or it may injure other parts of the saddle, and if this spring should break under certain conditions it may injure the rider. A lady is obliged to dismount forward, and if she does not jump far enough forward an accident of this kind could happen. Hence the limiting of the downward motion of the pommel is an important improvement on this style of saddle.

The stop-loop or stirrup D is fastened to the pommel of the saddle and passes around the arm A, as shown, and it is evident that if any force were applied to lift the pommel of the saddle the loop or stirrup D would catch on the arm A and prevent the pommel from going upward any farther than the power of the spring B would hold it, which is its normal position. The arm A is practically rigid for this purpose. If there were no stop-loop D,

the pommel could be forced upward to that extent that it would injure the saddle, and in some cases it could injure the rider. It would be very likely to have that effect with alady rider, as she is obliged to mount from the front part of the saddle, and if the pommel is not firmly prevented from going upward it will very often catch in her skirts in such a way as to involve danger. It can be seen that the stop-loop D will prevent an accident of this kind and is an important improvement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Abicycle-saddle having a rigid rear portion and a flexible pommel portion, a stiff horizontal arm independent of the pommel connected to the rear portion of the saddle and extending forwardly along beneath the pommel to a point near its frofit end, and a loose connection between the front end of the arm and the front end of the pommel, arranged to prevent extreme range of movement of the pommel, but to permit an unimpeded movement of the pommel through the middle part of its play substantially as described.

2. A bicycle-saddle having a rigid rear and middle support, a flexible pommel part, a spring for forcing the pommel upward, a loop or stirrup attached to the pom mel,and an arm rigidly attached to a part of the saddle and extending forward and within the loop substantially as shown and described.

3. A bicycle-saddle having a flexible pommel part, an elastic support for the same consisting of two ormore sections of leaf-springs of different lengths secured rigidly to the middle of the saddle in substantially parallel position to each other and projecting forwardly, the shorter one of said leaf-sections being slotted longitudinally so as to be longitudinally adjustable along the other sections, and a bolt passing through said slot and also through a perforation in the other leaf-section, and securing the same to the rigid middle portion of the saddle substantially as shown and described.

4. A bicycle-saddle having a flexible pommel, a saddle-support rigidly attached to the under side of the saddle and extended beyond its front connection in the form of an arm, a spring located between the arm and the pommel, and a retaining loop or stirrup attached to the pommel and inclosing said arm substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK O. AVERY.

\Vitnesses:

MABEL B. AVERY, J. M. ORTH. 

